Dud pipe bomb found
at Point Loma school
San Diego police and fire officials safely disassembled a dud pipe bomb found in a field at Silver Gate Elementary School, 1499 Venice St., on Sunday, Aug. 10, according to a city Fire and Rescue Department spokesman.
A passerby discovered the device at about 11:15 a.m. and called police.
The Metro Arson Strike Team, or MAST, responded to the call and followed a “routine procedure” to safely disassemble the device.
The pipe was made in such a way that it would not have exploded, according to Fire and Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque. Police and fire officials continue to investigate the incident, he said.
Luque said neighbors may have heard the bomb squad “shoot a charge” at the device to open it and ensure it was disabled.
“The device did not blow up,” Luque said. “Nothing exploded.”
“This just happened to be a device that somebody had constructed that wasn’t going to explode or detonate. It was a device that didn’t work,” he said.
Questions about the origins of the pipe and the intentions of the pipe bomb’s creator are being pursued. There have been no arrests.
Big dogs adoption event returns to Fiesta Island
A number of county animal groups are bringing out the big dogs.
The second annual big dogs adoption event is returning to Fiesta Island Sunday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held across from the fenced-in off-leash area near the OTL field.
Of the approximately 100 dogs and puppies available for adoption, most will either weigh or eventually grow to weigh 50 pounds or more.
To help the dogs adjust to their new homes, each adoptive family will be given a doggie bag filled with healthful dog food, grooming products, toys, coupons and gift certificates for pet services.
Organizers are also looking for volunteers to join them along with Fiesta Island Dog Owners (FIDO) and I Love a Clean San Diego to clean up the fenced-in off-leash area from 9 to 11 a.m. For information visit www.fidosd.org.
For more information on the big dog adoption, call (858) 847-8755 or visit www.sdshelters.com.
Lifeguard relays poised to bring out competition
San Diego lifeguards past and present will come together to celebrate 90 years of San Diego lifeguard history and compete against each other in the 54th annual Ron Trenton Memorial Lifeguard Relays today, Aug. 14.
The event will be held at the WaveHouse at Belmont Park beginning with the reunion at 4 p.m. The private reunion will feature a historic photo exhibit of the lifeguards throughout their time on San Diego’s beaches.
At 5 p.m. the lifeguards will move to the sand for the alumni lifeguard relays. The relays will feature 12 categories of rescue techniques used in ocean rescues, including running, swimming, paddleboarding and landline rescue.
The relays begin at 6, with the four Lifeguard Services departments competing against each other for bragging rights. The four divisions include:
“¢ Southern: Ocean Beach and Mission Bay
“¢ Central: Mission Beach and Pacific Beach
“¢ Northern: La Jolla’s beaches
“¢ Boating Safety Unit
The longstanding event was named after veteran lifeguard and longtime Northern team captain Ronald Trenton, who was lost at sea piloting a private plane from San Diego to Catalina Island in 1997.
Not guilty plea entered
in courthouse bombing
A San Diego man charged in connection with two pipe bomb explosions that damaged the Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse Downtown and a nearby FedEx building earlier this year has pleaded not guilty in an El Centro federal court.
Eric Robinson, 43, arrested Aug. 5, is named in an indictment that includes charges of using a weapon of mass destruction. Rachelle Carlock and Ella Sanders, also of San Diego, are also named in the action. If convicted, all three could be sentenced to life in prison.
The 17-count indictment alleges that the trio conspired to manufacture and detonate explosive devices on May 4 at the courthouse, located at 220 West Broadway, and on April 25 at a FedEx facility near San Diego’s Encanto area east of Downtown.
No one was injured in either bombing, but shrapnel at the courthouse site spread for two blocks and forced the closure of the facility the next day.
Carlock is in federal custody and was arrested May 15 in a related charge involving a false ID. Sanders is in a Chowchilla prison on unrelated charges.
Deadline nears for Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Ride
Event organizers are still accepting registrations for the 35th annual Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Ride that will run a 20-mile circuit starting from 1600 Pacific Highway through Harbor Island, Shelter Island, Old Town and Downtown San Diego starting at midnight on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Organizers said they expect between 1,500 to 2,000 riders to participate in one of the most renowned bicycling events in Southern California.
Riders can still pre-register for the event through today, Aug. 14 at a cost of $28. Those who wish to register the day of the event will pay $35.
Registration can be done online by visiting www.active.com, or by visiting www.sandiegomidnightmadness.org. Paid registration yields an event T-shirt, admission to contests and festivities, participation in the ride, a goodie bag and safety support.
The event is co-hosted by Hostelling USA, San Diego Council and the Uptown Optimist Club of San Diego. Proceeds will benefit youth education and outreach programs for both nonprofit organizations.
For more information, call (619) 338-9981.
Marketplace at Liberty Station 75 percent filled
Leasing activity remains steady at the Marketplace at Liberty Station in Point Loma, according to developers, who said five new deals for more than 13,000 square feet recently have been inked at the popular Point Loma-area shopping center.
According to Tami Daiber of C.W. Clark Inc., the La Jolla-based developer of the $54 million mixed-use center at Truxtun Road near Rosecrans Street, the center “continues to be an attractive address for the region’s top retailers, restaurants and service providers.”
Among the latest tenants to take space at the Marketplace are:
“¢ Tender Greens, a 3,000-square-foot restaurant specializing in salads and healthful fare;
“¢ Omni Dental, which has leased 2,720 square feet adjoining the entrance to Vons for its second comprehensive dental office in San Diego County;
“¢ It’s All About The Girl, a party and special-event location catering to the entertainment needs of young girls and teens, which has secured 6,000 square feet;
“¢ JoL Salon (Jarratts of London), an upscale L’oreal/Kerzstase Elite salon specializing in color, has leased 1,147 square feet and;
“¢ Ekiru Sushi, which will occupy 1,070 square feet fronting the Promenade in Building 30 Central upon completion of its new space this fall.
The 160,000-square-foot Marketplace at Liberty Station is now more than 75 percent leased with high-profile and activity-generating tenants such as Vons, Trader Joe’s, Panera Bread, Cold Stone Creamery, Point Loma Boardroom Postal Annex, DaKines Hawaiian Plate Lunches, Rose’s Nails, Jacobs & Spadea Jewelers, Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza, La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill and the Navy Federal Credit Union.
For more information, visit www.libertystation.com.
Eastern Star to host
summer barbecue event
Point Loma Chapter #490 of Eastern Star will hold its annual summer barbecue at 3935 Del Mar Ave. in Ocean Beach on Saturday, Aug. 16.
The event will run from noon until 4 p.m. and will feature hamburgers, hot dogs with all the trimmings and side dishes, salads, desserts and beverages.
The cost of the event is $7 per person. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a summer afternoon in Ocean Beach to socialize, renew friendships and meet new people in a relaxing outdoor environment.
For membership information, call (619) 223-0460.
Cancer Society Discovery Shop readies big sale
The Point Loma American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop will host its semi-annual sale on Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17 with all items marked down 50 percent.
The store is located at 3609-C Midway Drive.
Merchandise includes gently used women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, in addition to furniture and other household items.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The store has also increased its weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
“We’ve added a ‘Rack of the Day’ of specially marked merchandise as low as $2 from 5 to 6 p.m., which changes daily,” said Stephanie Ripley, assistant store manager. “As always, donations and volunteers are welcome.”
For more information, call (619) 224-4336, or visit www.cancer.-org/discovery.
Contemporary quilts use human form to tell story
Quilt Visions, San Diego’s premiere fiber arts organization, is celebrating the beginning of its second year of the Visions Art Quilt Gallery at the NTC Promenade with a new exhibit that opened Saturday, Aug. 9 and will run through Sunday, Oct. 5.
The exhibit, “Figuratively Speaking,” was inspired by the human form and will feature 16 contemporary fiber artists whose works span the photo-realistic to the fantastic, said gallery officials. The artists use the human face or form to tell a story or to make a political, cultural or humorous statement about the human condition.
The opening reception for the exhibit takes place Aug. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature a performance by Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater company member Annie Boyer.
The Visions Art Quilt Gallery is located at 2825 Dewey Road.
For more information, call (619) 546-4872, or visit www.quiltvisions.org.
Volunteers sought for Midway Museum
Officials with the USS Midway Museum are seeking applications from volunteers who would like to assist in a variety of assignments, including safety team, docent work/tour guides, aircraft restoration and ship restoration.
No military experience is required and women and civilians are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and be able to climb the ship’s ladders and stairs. A monthly commitment of 4 to 20 hours is requested, depending on assignment.
The museum is located at 910 N. Harbor Drive.
For more information, call (619) 398-8289, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.midway.org.
Brega joins LEAD San Diego board of trustees
Point Loma resident Michelle Brega has joined four other new board directors of LEAD San Diego after being elected during a recent annual meeting.
Brega, who lives in Point Loma with her husband and three sons, is currently the vice president and market development manager for Bank of America.
The election of Brega and the four other new directors brings LEAD San Diego’s active membership to 26.
LEAD San Diego has been developing civic leaders for more than 26 years and educates and empowers civic leaders who can understand and respond to ever-changing challenges facing the region.